Incandescent-electric-lamp socket.



No. 743,207. PATENTE'E Nov. 3,1903

A. WEBER, SE, A. WEBER, JK- & J. WEBER. INCANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMPSOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1903.

NO MODEL. 3 SHBETSSHEET 1.

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A. WEBER, $11., A. WEBER, JR. & .T. WEBER.

INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION IILBD FEB. 13, 1903.

lSHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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\A/ITNESEEE No. 743,207. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903. A. WEBER, 8a., A. WEBER,JR. & J. WEBER. INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

' AUGUST WEBER, SR, AUGUST WEBER, JR., AND JOHN WEBER, OF SOHEN- EOTADY,NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO SAID AUGUST VEBER, SR.

INCANDESCENT-ELECTRlC-LAMP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,207, dated November3, 1903.

Application filed February 13, 1903. Serial No- 143,22 1. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUGUST WEBER, Sr., AUGUST WEBER, J r., and JOHNWEBER, citi-' zens of the United States, residing at Schenectady, countyof Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Incandescent-Electric-Lamp Sockets, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter de scribed andsubsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the referencecharacters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view of an incandescent-electric-lampsocket embodying our inventiomshowing the case in central verticalsection'and the insulating-base and parts mounted thereupon in sideelevation. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the base and partsmounted thereupon viewed from the side opposite that, shown in Fig. 1,the; switch-shaft being shown in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a similar viewas seen from a posi-' tion at right angles to that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4' isa bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the inner endof the inner base member or disk. Fig. 6 is a view of the same inverted.Fig. 7 is a plan view of the outer end of the outer base member or disk.Fig. 8 is a view of the same inverted. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.4, part of the socketsleeve and bifurcated contact member being brokenaway to show the subjacent mechanism. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig.5,sl1owing portions of the switch mechanism in position upon the basemember. Fig. 11 is a central vertical section taken on the broken line11 11 in Fig. 4. with the socket-sleeve re-- moved. Fig. 12 is avertical section taken on the brokenline 12 12 in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is asection taken on the broken line 13 13 in Fig.- 4. Fig. 14. is a view inperspective of the bifurcated contact member. Fig. 15 is a view inperspective of the bearing-frame for one end of the switch-shaft beforeits bearing is closed upon the inserted shaft.

This invention relates to sockets for incandescent electric lamps and incertain of its features, more particularly to such sockets as areprovided with circuit-controlling devices.

Among the objects of the invention are to reduce the number of parts, torender the device more efficient in operation, and to facilitate andreduce the cost of manufacture, particularly with reference toconstructing the base portion of the socket of plastic insulatingmaterial, such as porcelain, molded to the desired form by means ofdies.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the invention is illustrated in itspreferred form, 1 represents a metal sleeve, and 2 a metal cap, both ofthe usual form, which may be secured together in any known manner toform the inclosure or casing for the socket, the sleeve being slotted toreceive the switch shaft or key 4 in the usual manner. The casing thusformed incloses an insulating-base, whereupon are mounted the switchmechanism and a screw-threaded sleeve adapted to receive thescrew-threaded shank of an incandescent electric lamp of the type now invogue.

Important features of the presentinvention relate to the construction ofthe insulatingbase and the manner in which the switch mechanism ismounted upon or combined with said base.

As shown in its preferred form, the base is a two-part structure, themembers thereof comprising a pair of circular blocks of substantiallydisk form adapted to be clamped one upon the other and provided in theirinner contiguous faces with die-formed complementary recesses, formingwithin the base a V switch-chamber adapted to receive the switchmechanism and support the same by simple engagement of the Walls of saidchamber with certain parts thereof when the base members are clampedtogether. The inner disk or base member 7 is formed with a T- shapedrecess in that face thereof which is adapted to contact with the otherbase member, 8 being the body, and 9 the head, of said T-shaped recess.A bearing-frame 10, prothan said recess and terminating within the bodyportion thereof. Secured to the bearing-frame 10, as by rivet 13, is aspring-con-v tact 14, which extends beyond the bearingframe into thehead 9 of the T-shaped recess and is provided thereat with a T-head-15,which is loosely contained and adapted to play therein. The outer diskor base member 16 is a die-formed porcelain structure complementary tothe inner disk 7, whereupon it is adapted to be clamped, and is providedin its inner face, adapted to contact with the inner disk 7, with aninwardly-open bearing 17, adapted to receive and rotatively support anintermediate portion of the switch-shaft 4. Outside of said open bearingthe switch-shaft is provided with an oblong switch-block l2, looselymounted thereupon to be rotated thereby, with more or less lost motion,in substantially the same manner as similar structures now in use, saidblock being adapted to play in the head 9 of the T-shaped recess in theinner base member 7 in constant engagement with the T-head of thespring-contact 14. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that whenthe base members 7 and 16 are clamped together the spring-contact 14 isheld under compression by the forcible contact therewith of the switch-block, induced by the engagement of the open bearing 17 of the basemember 16 with the switchshaft.

vThe spring-contact 14, which has the ordinary function of one of thecontacts between which the switch-block is adapted to play, in

the present construction has the important maintained in operativeposition by simple engagement with the walls of the base members whenclamped together without the use of screws or other mechanism forconnecting any of said elements with the insulating-base or anypartthereof. The severalelements of the switch mechanism being thusyieldingly held in position are permitted a certain degree ofself-adjustment, which enables them to adapt themselves one to anotherand relieves them from binding friction in operation, such as iscommonly induced by perma nent disalinement of parts more or lessinaccurately formed when fixedly connected together.

The screw-threaded socket-sleeve 20,adapted to-receive thescrew-threaded shank of an incandescent electric lamp,is fixedly mountedupon the outer face of the outer base member 16 by means of anintroverted flange 21- on the inner end of said sleeve adapted to beclamped between said outer base member and the horseshoe-shaped washer22, secured to the base.

The inner end of the socket-sleeve is cut away at 24 to prevent contacttherewith of the bifurcate end of a spring contact-plate 25, having anoffset shank 26 inserted between the base members and closely fittingthe recess 27 in the inner base member 7, whereby said spring-plate issecurely held in position when the base members are clamped together.One member, 28, of the bifurcate end of said spring contact-plate isprojected interiorly of the screw-socket through its cut-away portioninto position to be engaged by and form a yielding contact for aterminal on the inner end of the shank of the lamp inserted in thesocket, and the other member, 29, is projected opposite the T-head 15 ofthe springcontact 14, forming a yielding contact adapted to be engagedby the switch-block at certain times to establish a circuit connectionbetween said block-engaged contacts.

The washer 22 is provided with screwthreaded apertures adapted,respectively, to receive and lit the ends of screws 23, inserted throughregistering apertures in the respective base members. Two of said screwsonly will thus be found sufficientto securely clamp together in fixedrelation to each other the two base members and the socket-sleeve 20 andto retain in operative relation to each other all the elements of theswitch mechanism.

The outer base member 16 is preferably provided in its edge with arecess 30, corresponding in form and position, when the members areclamped together, with the head 9 of the T-shaped recess in the innerbase member, and the outer wall at the head of the T- shaped recess inthe inner base member is provided with an inwardly-open bearing 32 forthe end of the switch-shaft.

The switch-block 12 is mounted upon that portion of the switch-shaftwhich extends between the open bearing 17 in the outer base member atthe inner side of the head 9 of the T-shaped' recess and the openbearing 32 in the inner base member at the outer side of the head ofsaid T-shaped recess. The outer wall of the head of the T-shaped recessand the inner wall of the edge recess in the outer base member occupyparallel planes a distance apart approximately equal to the width of theswitch-block, which-is located and adapted to operate therebetween andwhich is adapted to engage and be guided by said walls disposed onopposite sides thereof. The switch-block being loosely mounted andcapable of self-adjustment upon the switch-shaft is thus caused byconfinement between said oppositely-disposed walls to operate in a planeparallel with said walls regardless of the angle formed by theswitchshaft with said plane of movement of the block, the shaft andblock being thus independently self-adj ustable without interfering withthe operation of the switch. The contact inember29 of the bifurcatecontact-plate overhangs the edge recess 30 in the outer base member inposition to be engaged by the switch-block when rotated to bring itslongitudinal axis at right angles to said contact.

It will be seen that the two spring-contacts 29 and 15 are mounted upona surface formed by a single die member, whereby it is possible tosecure a minimum variation or inaccuracy in said surface. Thespring-contact parts being die-formed, substantial uniformity is securedin the distance between their respective contact-surfaces and theirbases mounted upon the die-formed surface of the insulating-base. Asthus constructed and assembled said spring-contacts are accuratelyspaced a definite distance apart, whereby substantial uniformity ofaction of the switchblock is secured and a definite distance ofseparation is maintain ed between the switchblock and the contact 29when the circuit is broken, which is a feature of importance inelectric-lamp sockets in meeting the requirements of the fire-insurancecompanies.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art of molding porcelainby means of dies that while substantial uniformity can be secured indifferent parts of the surface formed by a single die member suchuniformity cannot be secured between surfaces formed by different diemembers, material variation being found in thickness of articles formedby the same dies, so that it is practically impossible to secureaccurate spacing of parts mounted one upon one side and the other uponanother side of the same piece of diemolded porcelain. To preventarcing, it is desirable that when the circuit is broken a considerablespace should intervene between the switch-block and the contact withwhich it alternately engages and disengages to make and break thecircuit; but the limited dimensions of the prevalent style of socketrender it difficult to secure a separation of said parts as great asdesirable.

By having the bearingframe l0 limited in length to occupy only the bodyportion 8 of the T-shaped recess and extending the springcontact 14beyond said frame into the head 9 of the recess the contact end of thespringcontact can be depressed to the extreme bottom of the recessinstead of being limited in such depression by an interposedbearingframe, such as has been heretofore commonly employed. It is thuspossible to increase the length of the switch-block, and therefore tolocate its axis of rotation at a greater distance from thespring-contact with which it intermittently engages, thus securing agreater distance of separation therefrom when the circuit is brokenWithout reducing the width of the block or increasing the dimensions ofthe socket.

The bearing-frame 10 is preferably made of malleable metal, as brass,and is provided in its offset 11 with an inclosed bearing-aperture ofgeneral circular form at one end, as at 35,

and at the other end in the form of a closed slot 36, ofiset from saidcircular portion, as shown in Fig. 15. The bearing thus formed isadapted to permit the insertion therethrough of the switch-shaft, havingthe offsets 37v permanently formed thereon in the usual manner, whichofisets serve to hold the shaft from longitudinal movement and to impartto the switch-block rotative movement when the shaft is rotated in theusual manner. After the offset portions of the shaft have been projectedthrough said bearing-aperture the slotted portion of the bearing iscompressed to close the same and to contract the circular portion of thebearing upon a cylindrical portion of the inserted shaft to support thesame in its rotative movement. The bearing can thus be cheaply formedand fitted and in use has no tendency to open when the shaft issubjected to transverse strain, as by a side pull upon the handle 38,whereby said shaft is adapted to be rotated.

The inner base member is provided with grooves 39, adapted to receivethe respective wires 40, which are connected in circuit with thespring-contacts 15 and 29 through the lamp inserted in the socket.

The socket-sleeve 20 is adapted to engage and make connection with oneof the-terminals of the inserted lamp and is connected with one of thewires 40 through the washer 22, which has an offset arm or bracket 43,provided with a binding-screw 44,whereby the circuit-wire is connectedtherewith.

The inner base member is formed with an edge recess 49, extending fromits inner side part way of its height, leaving on the outer side anoverhanging wall 45, of porcelain. An aperture 46 is formed through thisoverhanging wall extending from the outer face of said base member intosaid recess 44, which aperture is adapted to receive and closely fit thearm or bracket 43, which extends from the washer 22 therethrough intosaid recess, within which its binding-screw is located. The end of thecircuit-wire connected with said binding-screw is thus insulated andshut ofi from the outer part of the socket by the interveningoverhanging wall 45, of porcelain. The other circuit-wire is connectedwith the contact 15 through the bearing-frame 10 by means of abinding-screw 47 on the arm or bracket 48, offset therefrom andoccupying a recess in the peripheral portion of the insulating-base.

The shell or case may be lined with insulating material 50, if desired.

' What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pair ofinsulatingblocks clamped one upon the other and provided in theircontiguous faces with dieformed complementary recesses formingtherebetween a switch-chamber; and switch mechanism comprising aswitch-block, contacts, and block-actuating mechanism, all removablysupported within said chamber by simple engagement with the wallsthereof, substantially as described.

2. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, atwo-part insulatingbase chambered to receive switch mechanism; andswitch mechanism mounted therein comprising in part a contact-springadapted tobe confined under compression between the base members andthereby to retain said switch mechanism in place by simple engagementtherewith of the chamber-walls of the base, substantially as described.

3. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, atwo-part insulatingbase, one part provided with an inwardlyopenshaft-bearing and the other with a recess disposed opposite saidbearing; switch mechanism comprising in part a switch-shaft adapted torotate in said bearing; a switchblock mounted upon said shaft to berotated thereby, a spring-contact mounted in said recess in the one basemember and e'ngageable under compression with said switchblock andadapted to act therethrough to hold said shaft to its bearing in theother base member; and a contact disposed in opposition to saidspring-contact and adapted to be connected therewith by said block atcertain times, substantially as described.

4:. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pairof insulatingblocks clamped one upon the other, one provided in itsinner face with a T-shaped recess and in the wall at the head thereofwith an inwardly-open bearing and the other in its edge with a recesscorresponding with the head of said T-shaped recess, and in its innerface with an inwardly-open bearing; a springcontact mounted in saidT-shaped recess and projecting into the head thereof; a switchshafthaving one end rotatively confined in said respective open bearings; abearing for the other end of said shaft; a contact supported inopposition to said spring-contact; means for connecting said contactsrespectively in circuit with the terminals of an incandescent electriclamp; and aswitch-block operated by said shaft in said edge recess andhead of said T-shaped recess between said contacts to make and break thecircuit, substantially as described.

5. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, aninsulating-block having an elongated recess; a switch-shaft; abearing-frame shorter than said recess seated in one end thereof; aspring-contact mounted upon said bearing-frame and projecting therefrombeyond the same into the other end of said recess; an offset on theouter end of said bearing-frame containing a bearing for one end of theswitch-shaft; a bearing separate from said bearing-frame for the otherend of the switch-shaft; a contact supported in opposition'to saidspring-contact; means for connecting said contacts respectively incircuit with the terminals of an incandescent electric lamp; and aswitch-block operated by said shaft between said contacts to make andbreak the circuit, substantially as described.

6. Inan incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, aswitch-shaft; a switchblock loosely mounted upon said shaft to berotated thereby and capable of self-adjustment thereupon; an insulatingbase provided with bearings for said shaft and with a chamber adapted toclosely confine said switch block having oppositely disposed wallsadapted to engage and guide the selfadjustable block in its rotarymovements, and oppositely-disposed contacts adapted to be connected atcertain times by said switchblock, substantially as described.

7. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pair ofdie-formed insulating-blocks; a pair of contact-springs separatelymounted upon the same die-formed face of one of said blocks whereby theyare definitely spaced apart, one of said springs being extendedoutwardly from between said blocks and offset around and overhanging aportion of the other of said blocks; contacts respectively in circuitwith said springs and adapted to connect with the terminals of anincandescent electriclamp; an oblongswitchblock adapted to be operatedbetween said springs to make and break said circuit; and means foroperating the switch-block, substantially as described.

8. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, aninsulating-base; a switch-shaft having offset portions; and amalleable-metal bearing-frame mounted on said base having an inclosedbearing-aperture of general circular form at one end and at the otherend in the form of a closed slot ofiset from said circular portion, thebearing being adapted to receive the offset portion of said shaft inassembling the parts of the socket, and to have its slotted portioncompressed to close the slot after the shaft has been inserted,substantially as described.

9. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, atwo-part insulatingbase; and a spring contact-plate having at one end anoffset shank clamped between the base members, and having its other endbifurcated and the members thereof projected one into the path of one ofthe terminals of an incandescent electric lamp mounted in the socket andthe other into the path of a switch-block mounted on said base,substantially as described.

10. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, aninsulating-base; a lamp-receiving socket-sleeve mounted upon the outerend of said base and having a cutaway portion adjacent thereto; aswitch-shaft rotatively mounted upon said base; a switchblock mountedupon said shaft to be rotated thereby; a spring-plate mounted upon saidbase having a yielding bifurcated end; one arm whereof projects throughthe cut-away portion of the socket-sleeve into the path of one of theterminals of the inserted lamp, and the other into the path of saidswitch-block between the same and said sleeve; and a spring-contact onthe opposite side of said block engageable therewith, substantially asdescribed.

11. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination adie-formed insulatingbase; a lampreceiving socket-sleeve mountedthereupon having a cut-away portion adjacent thereto; a switch-block;means for operating said block; and a spring-contact and spring-plateseparately mounted upon the same die-formed surface of said base, saidplate having a pair of integral resilient arms projected one through thecut-away portion of said sleeve into the path of one of the terminals ofthe inserted lamp, and the other into the path of said block between thesame and said sleeve, said spring-con tact being ongageable with saidblock on its opposite side, substantially as described.

12. In an incandescent-electric-lamp socket and in combination, a pairof die-formed insulating base members secured together; a

lamp-receiving socket-sleeve mounted upon the outer end of the outerbase member and having adjacent thereto a cut-away portion; aswitch-block; means for operating said block; a spring-contact mountedupon the end of the inner base member adjacent to the outer base memberand engageable with said block on one side thereof; a spring-platemounted upon said inner end of the inner base member offset from betweenthe base members around and overhanging the outer base member and havingits outer end bifurcated, one arm thereof projecting through theout-away portion of the socket-sleeve into the path of one of theterminals of an inserted lamp, and the other arm into the path of saidswitch-block on the other side thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 28th day ofJanuary, 1903.

A. WEBER, SR. AUGUST WEBER, JR. JOHN WEBER.

Witnesses:

WALTER BRIGGS, S. H. VISSOHER.

